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They will be part of 1,400 one-to-one meetings with targeted businesses, discussing 90 contract packages with potential suppliers ranging from environmental works, such as landscaping, to construction materials and plant supply.

The scale of the HS2 project means that there will be thousands of opportunities within the HS2 supply chain across many business sectors over a number of years.

David Poole, HS2 Ltd's supply and procurement director, said: “Today’s event is a great next step in our programme to engage with businesses, big and small, from across the UK, and give them all the tools to make the most of HS2’s emerging supply chain opportunities.

"HS2 is a long term national programme and it’s great that businesses from across the UK, from as far as Inverness and Belfast, are gearing up to get on board.”

This is the first time that HS2’s main works contractors, the consortium of companies that will be building the new line between London and the West Midlands, have taken part in a large-scale supply chain event.

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Companies were given the opportunity to attend the event after being identified by a range of trade bodies and other networks and then matched to the future supply chain opportunities which will arise from HS2 contracts in the coming 12-18 months.

Westminster plans for HS2 are to take the line from London to Birmingham, followed by extensions to Manchester and Leeds which will not be completed until 2033.

The UK Government has previously said the phase between London Euston and Birmingham promises faster journeys onward to Glasgow of under four hours and an expansion of the network to Crewe in 2027 will see journeys between Glasgow and London reduced by 45 minutes